ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 8

Inactivation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) by Ionizing Radiation in Body Fluids and Serological Evidence
Thornton, A
Deputy director, chemist, and biological laboratory technician, Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, MD

Adams, DE
Special agents, Scientific Analysis Section, FBI Laboratory, DC

Hocken, DG
Physicist, calibration technician, and physicist, Ionizing Radiation Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, MD

Sun, D
Deputy director, chemist, and biological laboratory technician, Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, MD

Humphreys, JC
Physicist, calibration technician, and physicist, Ionizing Radiation Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, MD

Simic, MG
Physicist, calibration technician, and physicist, Ionizing Radiation Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, MD

Bigbee, PD
Special agent, Forensic Science Research and Training Center, FBI Laboratory, FBI Academy, VA

Sarin, PS
Deputy director, chemist, and biological laboratory technician, Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, MD

Eubanks, WG
Special agents, Scientific Analysis Section, FBI Laboratory, DC

(Received 2 December 1998; accepted 6 January 1989)

Abstract

A method to use ionizing radiation to inactivate HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) in human body fluids was studied in an effort to reduce the risk of accidental infection to forensic science laboratory workers. Experiments conducted indicate that an X-ray absorbed dose of 25 krad was required to completely inactivate HIV. This does not alter forensically important constituents such as enzymes and proteins in body fluids. This method of inactivation of HIV cannot be used on body fluids which will be subjected to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) typing.

Keywords:
forensic science, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), human T-lymphotropic Virus Type III, ionizing radiation, gamma radiation, X-ray radiation, liquid blood samples, semen, saliva, serology

Paper ID: JFS12770J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12770J
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